Raakhee Gulzar was to play Nanda's role but being a busy actress had to opt out because of date issues. Mazdoor is the remake of. B.R.Chopra earlier film Naya Daur. Dilip Kumar, Nazir Husein and Johnny Walker were in both films.
After Nikaah Salma Agha was signed for Mazdoor and even recorded one song but left the film before shooting started. Rati Agnihotri replaced her.
Rati Agnihotri was uncomfortable with the gray role where she plays a seductress and wanted to leave the film but Ravi Chopra convinced her otherwise. When the movie was released she walked away with a lot of accolades despite the huge ensemble cast.
There was a story doing the rounds that Dilip Kumar was not interested in the film due to Ravi Chopra's poor box office record. when B. R Chopra offered Dilip Kumar a three film deal he agreed. Ravi Chopra denied the rumours.
While Mazdoor was Nanda's last film interestingly she played Padmini Kolhapure's mother in all three films she had signed during her brief comeback in the 1980's - Ahista Ahista, Prem Rog & Mazdoor.